The Great American Symphony

[Mahlerian]

Am I mistaken in thinking that Alan Gilbert programs a good deal of contemporary music, or at least records it?

Not at all.  His tenure with the New York Philharmonic has brought with it a good deal of contemporary music, both on regular subscription programs and outside of them.

[Cato]

Not at all.  His tenure with the New York Philharmonic has brought with it a good deal of contemporary music, both on regular subscription programs and outside of them.

Good!  An example for the more timid conductors out there, although yes, I understand the pressures to stay with "safe programming."

[Sergeant Rock]

The article also fails to explain as to exactly WHY Brian's symphonies remain so under-performed.

It's not just Brian. Most British symphonists are under-performed even in the UK, and most, under-recorded: Moeran, Rubbra, Rawsthorne, Berkeley, Bantock, Frankel, Jones, Bate, Arnell, Butterworth, Lloyd, Bush to name just a very few.  I assume it's the same reason(s) most American symphonies are ignored in the USA. But Brian has the added problem of being a stylistic oddity, "both monumental and subversive".

Sarge

[PerfectWagnerite]

It's not just Brian. Most British symphonists are under-performed even in the UK, and most, under-recorded: Moeran, Rubbra, Rawsthorne, Berkeley, Bantock, Frankel, Jones, Bate, Arnell, Butterworth, Lloyd, Bush to name just a very few.  I assume it's the same reason(s) most American symphonies are ignored in the USA. But Brian has the added problem of being a stylistic oddity, "both monumental and subversive".

Sarge

Not sure about the others but in the case of Butterworth he really didn't write that much orchestral music.

[Sergeant Rock]

Not sure about the others but in the case of Butterworth he really didn't write that much orchestral music.

I mean Arthur Butterworth (composed seven symphonies), not George "Banks of Green Willow" Butterworth.

Sarge

[PerfectWagnerite]

I mean Arthur Butterworth (composed seven symphonies), not George "Banks of Green Willows" Butterworth.

Sarge

Arthur Butterworth? Never heard of him. Huh huh.

[Sergeant Rock]

Arthur Butterworth? Never heard of him.

Exactly my point 

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

I can see the motivation to give the laurel to the Ives Fourth, as (to use the word in its original sense) the masterpiece, the symphony which is the inaugural accomplishment signaling mastery.  But considering the work as a cycle (and you expect this of a later composer, Ives having broken the ground) I think it quite clear that Schuman (e.g.) is an arguably greater symphonist.

Which I suppose brings us to my traditional quarrel with any effort to "establish" The [One] Great[est] Anything in the musical world.  Like the Hungarian guy said, it ain't a horse race.

[Monsieur Croche]

I can see the motivation to give the laurel to the Ives Fourth, as (to use the word in its original sense) the masterpiece, the symphony which is the inaugural accomplishment signaling mastery.  But considering the work as a cycle (and you expect this of a later composer, Ives having broken the ground) I think it quite clear that Schuman (e.g.) is an arguably greater symphonist.

Which I suppose brings us to my traditional quarrel with any effort to "establish" The [One] Great[est] Anything in the musical world.  Like the Hungarian guy said, it ain't a horse race.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for the corrigendum!

[PerfectWagnerite]

Exactly my point 

Sarge

Maybe most of Britain prefers George instead?

[Sergeant Rock]

Maybe most of Britain prefers George instead?

Probably. George does have a greatest hit; Arthur doesn't.

Sarge

[relm1]

John Adams' Harmonielehre is such a fantastic symphony.  I'm currently listening to Kent Nagano's Montreal Symphony recording and it might be my favorite, so powerful, dramatic, and lyrical.  The Mahler influence never felt as strong as it does here. 

[vandermolen]

John Adams' Harmonielehre is such a fantastic symphony.  I'm currently listening to Kent Nagano's Montreal Symphony recording and it might be my favorite, so powerful, dramatic, and lyrical.  The Mahler influence never felt as strong as it does here.

Need to re-hear it. Thanks for the recommendation.

[relm1]

Need to re-hear it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Listen how great this is:
https://youtu.be/r_vf_d6PNyA?t=494

and compare 8:37 of the Adams to this of Mahler here
https://youtu.be/2bWykCZXGDs?t=1098

[foxandpeng]

*reads entire thread*

*makes great big, honkin' list*

*leaves*

[springrite]

John Adams' Harmonielehre is such a fantastic symphony.  I'm currently listening to Kent Nagano's Montreal Symphony recording and it might be my favorite, so powerful, dramatic, and lyrical.  The Mahler influence never felt as strong as it does here. 

It remain my favorite Adams' work.
Like with many contemporary composers (Philip Glass, Reich, Ades...), I seem to like their earlier works.

[relm1]

It remain my favorite Adams' work.
Like with many contemporary composers (Philip Glass, Reich, Ades...), I seem to like their earlier works.

LA Phil is performing Adams' City Noir in a month which I'm thinking of checking out but am not so familiar with it.